Railway traffic controlling apparatus



Feb. 13, 1945 E. M. ALLEN RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 30, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 13, 1945 E. M. ALLEN RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 30, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www; w w

ing its momentary energization., l AIshall describeone form of apparatus embody-- ing my invention, and shall then point out the Patented Feb. 13, 1945 UNi-TsosTATss PATENT OFFICE. YA

RAILWAYl TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS trolling: apparatus, and'particularly to apparatus of the` type 4involving locking: means for at times preventing operationv of a railway track switch or a signal in an interlockingsystem. More specifically, my invention relates to` the release of approachfflocking ,in a-V railway `interlocking system. 1 .l

The apparatus of my present invention is an improvement over that .disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 465.215, led November l1, 1942, fo Railway tra'liic controlling apparatus'. i i

In order' to'reduce the number of line Wires requiredin a railway interlocking control system, s

it is desirable, in thecontrol of an approach locking relay. associated with a given signal, to use, as an approach relay, -a traflic responsive signal relay which serves for controlling an opposing signal. If a distant signal for the given signal is manually controlled, the signal control relay for theopposing signal, asusually controlled, will be deenergized when the distant signal is controlled to indicate :caution or proceed. Therefore, if while the given signal and the distant signal are-indicating caution or', proceed, a

leverman restores the given signal to its s top indication without the distant signal being also' controlled to indicate-stop, the signaly control re.-

`lay for the opposing signal will remain deenergized, and hence .an approachk locking release circuit controlled by this signal relay for energizing the approach locking relay for vthe given .signal will he open-, .The approach locking relay can then. become energized only uponthe-lapse of a time intervaldetermined by time releasing means, This is an unnecessary delay' in the 'release of the approach looking if there is no train approaching the distant signal, and therefore reduces the flexibilityof the system., l.

One featurey of my invention is the provision of means for momentarily energizing the signal Icontrol relay .for the .opposing signal it the distant signal is. controlled to change from. displaying a proceed indication to displaying the. caution indication when the given signal is returned to its stop indication.. The approach locking relay thus becomes, energized by a pick-up circuit, and is retained in the energized condition by its ,stick circuit after the.` signal. control relay for the opposing signal becomesfdeenergized:tollowf novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawingaFigs. 1a and lb, when placed end to end, with Fig. la-on the left,

constitutea diagrammatic view showing one Yform of apparatusy embodying `myinvention. Fig. 1c comprises a tableof relay controls which are not shown,y but which are similar` to corresponding relay controlswhich are shown in Figs.- 1a and 1b.

Referring to the drawings, the reference characters 5 and 5a designate the rails ofa stretch of railway track over which traffic movements maybe `made in either direction. Adjacent the left-hand end of this stretch-oi track, as shown in the drawings, which I shall assume is the West end, is a switch "1.- Adjacent theA opposite or east lend of the stretch of 4track is a second switch 3.

Rails 5 and `5a are divided by insulated joints t toform sections I 2T, A2T, lT, AST, 3T, and AGT. Each of these track sections is provided with a track circuit including a suitable source of current, such as a battery `'1, connected vacross the rails adjacent one end of the section, and a track relay, designated by a reference character which lis the same asfthe referencecharacter for the associatedsection except rthatfii; includes the letter R instead of theletter T, connected across l the rails adjacent the oppositeendof the section.

An` approach relay AR-is controlled by relays lZRand A2R. .1

Eastbound traino movements over the stretch of track are governed by signals .I2,.R2, RA4 and Westbound traiiic movements over they R134. stretch of track are vgoverned by signals L4, and LB2. be designated signal RAZ,k governs traflic -movements over switch l inthe normal position,

whereas arm B of this signal, or signal RB2, governs traflic movements over switch l in the reverse position.v Arms A and Bof signal .L4 similarly govern `traffic movements over switch 3 in the normal and reverse positions, respec- A tively. Signal RAZserves as a distant signal .for

signal BAA and since, asshown in the drawings, the distance betweensignals RAZ andRAll` is less than braking distance/,signal l2 serves as aseo- -ond distant signal forv signal RAL The signals shown in the drawings may be ,of` any suitable type such, for example, as color` light or searchrlight signals.

The contacts operated by the various relays andfother control devices are identified by numbers yeach such number having a, distinguishing 4prefix from which itis separated by a dash when .the associated Contact is shown apart from the relayor other device lby which it is operated. The prefix for each of these contact numbers Arm- A ofsignalRLvwhich may also comprises the reference character for the relay or other device by which the associated contact is operated. For example, contact 2RA-'I0,

shown in the circuit for relay 2PC in the upper right-hand portion of Fig. la, is identified by the` number 'I0 which is separated by a dash from the prex ZRA which is the reference character for relay ZRAYby which this contact is operated.

Track -switch I is operated between its normal and reverse positions by a suitable mechanism designated by the reference character IM. This i mechanism is in turn controlled byva polarized?,l

` normal or its reverse position according as switch I is in the normal or the reverse position, respectively. Contact 8, when in its normal position, completes a circuit for energizing a normal switch` indicationy relay INP, and when in its reverse` position, completes a circuit for energizing a reverse switch indication relay IRP.

Signals LA2, LB2, RA2A and RB2 are controlled vby home control relays l2LA, 2LB, ZRA and 2RB, respectively. These. home control relays are in turn controlled by route relays L2R andRZR, and

f also by the switch indication relays, switch locking relay, and approach locking relays.

Route relays LZR and R2R arevcontrolled by remote controlled signal relays L2S and RZ2KSby reverse position. The time release circuits' for relay R4L are controlled by time element devices ABE and 4E', by slow release auxiliaryr stick relays :IBS and 4ESfand by an auxiliary'stick relay 4Z.

Switch operating mechanism 3M for switch 3 is controlled by relay R4L through a switch locking 'relay which controls a switch control relay similarly to the manner shown by which switch operating mechanism IM is controlled byrelay L2L in Switch indication relays 3NP and SRP for switch 3 are controlled similarly to relays INP and IRP for switch I.

Having described, in general, the arrangement and control of the apparatus shown by the accompanying drawings, I shall now describe, in detail, its operation.

As shown by the drawings, all parts of the apparatus are in the normal condition,- that is, switches I and 3 are in their normal pdsitions; signal I2 isl indicating caution, and all other signals are indicating stop; normal operating circuits are arranged for switch mechanisms IM and polarized traicresponsive signal relays L2D and .R2D, and also by remote controlled switch relays INS` and IRS, by switch indication relays INP and IRP, by approach locking stick relays L2L and R2L, and by track relay IR.

` Traflicresponsive signal relay L4D isl controlled by track relays IR and A3R for track sections IT and A3T between signal BH4 and its distantf signal RA2, if approach locking relay R2L associated with signals R2 is energized. Another circuit for energizing relay L4D, controlled by relays 2PC' andZPP, is momentarily closed when signal RA2 is controlled to indicate caution or stop after it hasbeen controlled to indicate'proceed, if there is no train in the approach sections I 2T and A2T for signal RA2 so that relay AR is energized. The Apolarity of the current by which relay LIID is energized is determined by pole changing contacts ofrelay 2LA. Relay R2D for traffic movements inl the opposite direction is controlled similarly to relay L4D.

Proceed signal control repeater relay 2PC is controlled by relays 2RA and R2D so as to be energized only if signal RA2 is controlled to indi-` cate proceed. Slow release signal control re` peater relay 2PP is controlled by relay 2PC so as to be energized only-if relay 2PC is energized. l

I Route relay RIIR. shown in Fig. 1b, is controlled similarly to relay L2R shown in Fig. 1a, and home control relays ARA and IRB for signals RA4 and R334 are controlled similarly to relays 2LA and 2LB, also shown in Fig. 1a.

Approach locking stick relay R4L is provided with a normallyenergized pick-up circuit includ` ing laffront contact of relay LIlD, as well as with a long time release circuit for high speed traine movements, and a short time release circuit for low speed trafc movements over switch 3 in the A3M as shown for mechanism IM; relays AR, INS, INP, I L, 4Z, and R4L are energized; relay IW is energized by current of normal polarity; relays R2D and LAD are energized by current of reverse polarity; and relays RZS, L2S, IRS, IRP, R2R, L2R, 2BA, 2RB, 2LA, 2LB, 2PC, 2PP, 4BS, AES, and time element devices IIBEand 4E are deenergized.

The normal operatingcircuit for mechanism IM passes from terminal B of a suitable source of current, through contact IW-S and contact IW--I in its normal position, and mechanism IM to terminal O ofthe samesource of current. Relay INP is energizedby its circuit passing from terminal B, through switch contact `8 in the normal position, and the winding of 'relay INP to terminal O. f

' Approach relay AR is energized by its circuit passing from terminal B, through contacts I3 and Ill of relays AZR and I2R respectively, and the winding of relay AR to terminal O.

Relay IL is energized by a circuit passing from terminal B, through the front point of contact I E'ofrelay'LZL, contacts R2L'-IB and IR'-I'I, andthe winding of relay IL to terminal O.

Relay vIW is energized in the normal direction by a circuitpassing from terminal B, through the 'front point 'of contact I L-IB, front point of con- ASR-38, 3Rf-3I and` UIL- 35, and the back point of contact IRA-#39 to terminal O.

A pick-up circuit is closed for energizing relay AZ. passing from terminal B, through contacts 40, 4I and 42 of relays RIIR, 4RA. and HRB. respec-tively. contacts IIE-43 and ABE- 44. back point ofV contact IES-45. contact GBS-46, and the winding of relay 4Z to terminal O1. A stick circuit is also closed for relay 4Z which follows the pick-un circuit as far as contact 42 of relay dRB. and then passes through contact 4l of relay 4Z, and the Winding of relay`4Z to terminal O.

asesina A pick-up4 circuit?` is closedy fon energizing? relay. me passingA i'tOr-n terminal B througln contacts 40",; 4"liv and #2i of relaysiRR', ARAi, and 4R15, r.e,- spectivfely; contact 482" or' relay; SNP; conta-ct MDL-9; andlv the Windingl or? relay to, tere minaD G. A-

circuit isi-also closed for relay RWE; following thefpick-up-circuit fon this relay as tar-as contact 4m oifrelay llRB'. and then passau ing through. the front point: of contar-:t t oii rela-.y` RAL, and the winding oiirelayRiLJto terminal' 0i I shall'I assumethat a: leverman: effects. enerV `gii'zatibrr oi relay R251' to clear-signaliRAl Relay RZR thenI becomes: energizedLv byi its pass.- ing from .termina-l5 B,- throughl con-tact*- 5511 ci?v rea lay L2R, contactLZTir-SE bachv point oioontact 5.1i of relay; 1325i, Contact 5E- oiv relay-v IiR2, contact 5941i* relay #N93 contact 801 of' relay ILNS-, front point oiTv contact Gillot relayfRiiS, contact RMD-- 62, and the Winding of relay RZR'- to` terminal` @a Relay# RZR, upon becoming energized, deenergiaes relay RZLisim-ilarly t'othe rifrarinerA in which relayA RAR'j would deenergize relayf RGL upon bee 'comingenergized.

Relay'RZlE, uponY becoming deenergized, open-s the circuitl traced Forl relay HL. at its; con-tact H2L-lt?, causing relay PL toalso become deer!- ergized. Relay" FL, upongbecom-ing d'eenergizedopens its contactyliL-- at the f-roni':v point, thereby` de energizing relay fW. Whenrelay FW becomes deenergi-zed, its corrtact FVW-9l becomes openedin the circuit previously traced'. formecnanism lIflvl.

With relays IfL andRZL deenergized; and with relay RZR energized, relay Z'RA becomes energized by a circuit passing from; terminal B, through. the. back point of" Contact IL-Ig contact' 63" of relay REL., back point of contact. L2R 81, contact INP-6,5, front point of contact RZ'Et-GE,r contact 6,1 of relay ZRB. and* the winding of relay ZRA to terminal O.

I shall. also assume that signal RA@ is similarly cleared; Rel'ay RIL therefore becomes deener` gized on account of' contact 4.0' of relay Rillfty becomingy opened. Relay 4Z isv also. .d'ecnergzed 0n -account ofcontact 40 of relay RMR;l becoming opened. Relay ERA becomes energized similarly to the manner in which relay ZRA. becomes' ener.- v

.points of these contacts.

, `With. relay ZRA energized, and withA relay RRD .energized by `current oi normal polarity.4 signal RAZ is operated tothe proceed position bv a cir points; oft contacts. RAe-:31j and` IRA-.e391 agzaiirliV becomes closed, cal'lsi-ngY relay R2Dftobccome enr ergized in the reverse direction and therefore open its. contact- RZD-i-SS' in the;i proceed control circuit 'previously traced fon signal RAZ..

The arm' of signal:y isnow retained in. the cau-tionposi-tion by.: its circuit passing from ter` minaliB; through contact `2RAi-=68g and the-mech. anism off sign-at RAZ to." terminal Oz Relay L4D has previously-been, deenergizedf when signal RA2 was operated. to. the proceed; position, because.v of

contact: REL-25: becoming: open due to the de energi'zation of. relay- H2L.

Thapick-up. oircuitpreviouslytraced for relay @Z1 new: becomes.- closedf, causing relay 4Z. tobecome energized andcompl'ete its stick'. circuit previously traced.

@n account of relayi 134D being:- deenergized", the pick-up circuit previously traced for relay. R4L is now open at. contact 9'.

With relay R4L deenergized, a circuit is now completed. for energizing time element device NBE; passingy from. terminal: B., through contacts vcuit passing from terminal B. through contacts contacts. ZRA--VTQ and REID- .1 I.. and the. Windine` of relay 2PC; tov terminal O. Relay 2li-PP- then! be comes energized by its circuit. Dessine; from terminal B.. through/the front point of Contact 'l2v of .relay 2PC, and the.'winding of relay ZPP to ter- I shall4 further assume that after a train arrives on section. 12T. the lever-man `decides tn restore signal EAA to the stop indication. but. does not .restore sienal RAZ to the sten indicatori. With relay RA therefore 'becoming deenergized. the circuit traced for relay RZD through the back respectively', bach point .or contact 54. of relay R4H, contact AaZ-13, bach point of'contact M of relay-WBS, andi time element device GBE to. ter minal.- O. Upon the lapse of` a measured periodv oi time, contact 15 of.' time element device BE" will close, thereby completing a. pick-up circuit for relay HBS'- which is.l the same as the energizing circuit previously tracedl for device @BE as far as. contact KZ-13; and. then passes through contact 'IJ-5. of device NBE; and. the. winding ofxr'elay LBS toI terminal- O. y RelayllBS', upon becoming energized, opens the circuit. for device #BE atthe back point 'of contact w, and completes its own stick circuit through the front point ot contact 14.'

rA. circuit is now closed for energizing time element device 4E, which. follows the path previously traced for the energizing circuit fordevicel-QBE: as: tar as.v contact 4 Z-l3 'and then first passesY through contact l5 of1 device 43E,l and afterwards passes through the. front point of contact '4 ci? relay'vdBS, the back point of contact Ni of' relay ES, and time element device 4E, to

terminal:` O. I

Time element device. 42E, upon remaining energiized; for a measured period ofv time, completes a circuit for energizing relay liESy, which is the same as the circuit for energizing device 4E as ranas the front point o contact 'M of reiayA-BS', and then passes through contact 'VF of device 4E;

.f and the Winding of' relayl #ES to` terminal O. Rellay/ RES, upon becoming energized, opens the circuit traced for device 4E at the backpoint of contact `1li, and the-n completes its own stick oir-` c-u-it at the fron-t point of contact 16.

As soon asthe back contacts of devices' 4E`and 4BEhave closed after these devices have become deenergi'zed, a second pick-up circuit Will become el'osed for energizing relay R4L.' passingy from terfminar B, through contactsA 410; 4l vand 42" oil relays RBR, #RA andV 4RB, respectively' c'zontactvas` 15E-43 and 4BBL-4.4. front point of contactES- 45, contact @BS- 53, andj the winding" oi" relay R4L to terminal O. v .i

I shan next. assume that all. parts of the ,appar ratus are again returned to the normal condition,`and that the leverman, then clears signal RA# but doesV not clear signal RAZ which, therejfore,1 continues. to indicate steil.. I Shall 'further assume. that. the ieverman returns signal RMft the stop indication while track sections IT and A3T are still unoccupied. Relay L4D is now energized in the reverse direction by its circuit first traced.

As soon as signal RA4 is returned to the sto position, relay 4Z will become energized by its pick-up circuit previously traced. With relay L4D energized, relay R4L will become energized by its pick-up circuit rst traced as soo-n as signal RA4 is returned to the stop indication.

I shall now assume that all parts of the apparatus are again returned to the normal condition, and that the leverman clears both signals RA4 and RAZ as previously described, but that before aitrain enters section |2T, he returns signal RA4 to the stop indication, but does not return signal RAZ to the stop indication. Relay ARA Will therefore be deenergized, causing relay R2D to again be energized in the reverse direction by its circuit first traced.

Relay RZD, upon becomingenergized in the reverse direction, opens its contact R2D-1I in the circuit traced 'for' relay 2PC, causing this relay t become deenergized and thereby open the circuit previously traced for relay 2PP. w l

The 'winding of relayZPP is then connected in a shunt circuit with both of its'terminals connected to terminal O of thel source of current through the back point of contact 12 of relay 2PC. Relay 2PP will therefore be slow to release. The front contact of relay 2PP will therefore remain closed for a brief period of time after the back contacts of relay 2PC have closed.

A circuit is therefore` momentarily closed for energizing relay LAD, passing from terminal B, through the back point of contact 2LA-2 l, contactl ASR-29, winding of relay LAD, contacts ASR- 28, IRf-Z, iR-24, 2PP--23, 2PC-22, and theback point of contact 2LA-3 tov terminal O. With relay L4D momentarily energized, relay R4L will therefore become energized by its pickup circuit first traced, and will then remain energized by its stick circuit.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, it follows that in apparatus embodying my invention in the control of an approach locking relay associated with a given signal such, for example, as relay R4L associated with signal RA4 shown in the drawings, I have provided means for using, as an approach relay, a traflic responsive signal relay for an opposing signal such, for example, as relay L4D for signal LA4. By the arrangement which I have provided, the flexibility in the release of approach locking is the full equivalent of that Which is provided if a separate approach relay with separate line wires is used. My invention, therefore,

provides equivalent results with a lesser amount y of control apparatus and conductor material.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modications may be made therein within the scope of the. appended claims without `departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what. I claim is: f r1. In release means for energizing a` locking stick relay associated with a signal adjacent a given stretch of track forl governing traffic movements inl a given direction over said given stretch of track in a railway interlocking system, including a distant signal for said rst signal responsive to manually controllable control means, including a third signal in said given direction beyond said first signal for governing traiiic movements in the opposite-direction over said given stretch of track, including a normally energized signal relay for controlling said third signal responsive to traic conditions and also controlled by the control means for said distant signal so that said signal relay is deenergized if said distant signal is controlled to display an indication other than stop, the combination comprising, a circuit responsive to control means for said distant signal for momentarily energizing said signal relay if said distant signal is controlled to change from displaying the proceed indication to displaying the caution indication, and means including a front contact of said signal relay for energizing said locking stick relay. f

2. In release means for energizing a locking stick relay associated with a signal adjacent va given stretch of track for governing traic movements in a given direction over said given stretch of track in a railway interlocking system, including a distant signal for said first signal, including a third signal in said given direction beyond said first signal for governing traflic movements in the opposite direction over said given stretch of track, including a normally energized signal relay for. controlling said third signal responsive to traffic conditions if said vdistant signal is controlled to indicate stop, including a repeater tact of said slow release relay for momentarily energizing said signal relay, and a pick-up and a stick circuit for said locking stick relay each controlled by a contact which is closed if said first signal is controlled to indicate stop and the pick-up circuit also controlled by a front contact of said signal relay.

3. In a railway interlocking system having a locking stick relay associated with a signal adjacent a given stretch of track for governing trafc movements in a given direction over said given stretch of track, including a distant signal for said rst signal, including a third signal in said given direction beyond said first signal for governing traic movements in the opposite direction over said given stretch of track, including a signal relay for controlling said third signal responsive to trailic conditions between said distant and third signals if said distant signalgis controlled to indicate stop, the combination comprising,k a circiut responsive to control means .for said distantsignal for energizing said signalv 11elay if said distant signal is controlled to display the caution indication after displaying the prolceed indication, and a pick-up circuit for said locking stick relay controlled'by a front Contact of said signal relay.

4. In a railway interlocking systemr having a locking stick relay associated with a signal` adjacent a given stretch of track .for governing traflic movements in a given. direction over said given stretch of track, including a distant signal for said first signal, includinga third signal in said given direction beyond saidv first signal for governing trai'ic movements in the opposite direction over said given stretch of track, including a signal relay for controlling said third signal responsive to vtraine conditions between said distant and third signals if said distant signal is controlled to indicate stop,l thecomblnation comprising, a circuit responsive to control means for said distant signal for momentarily energizing said signal relay if said distant signal is controlled to indicate caution after indicating proceed and if an approach track section in the rear of said distant signal is unoccupied, and a pickup circuit for said locking stick relay controlled by a front contact of said signal relay.

5. In a railway interlocking system having a locking stick relay associated with a signal adjajacent a given stretch of track for governing traffic movements in a given direction over said given stretch of track, including a distant signal for said iirst signal, including a third signal in governing tramo movements in the opposite di rection over said given stretch of track, including a signal relay for controlling said third signal responsive to traffic conditions in advance of said third signal if said distant signal is controlled to indicate stop, the combination comprising, a circuit responsive to control means for said distant signal for momentarily energizing said signal relay if said distant signal is con-y said given direction beyond said ilrst signal for l5 

